Ghosts. I had never seen one, or had any reason to believe they existed. I thought it most likely that the majority of ghost tales were fabricated for commercial reasons. That said, I never discounted their existence but I was deeply sceptical.

Bronte, my colleague and friend at the Bath Chronicle however, was a lot more open to the idea of ghosts. In fact, some of her family thought that ghosts might exist. This was based purely on the fact that Bronte’s grandfather hated plug-in air fresheners and after he passed away, the air freshener repeatedly broke down. This was him asserting his views!

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And so Bronte and I find ourselves driving down to Shepton Mallet prison to find some ghosts. Why? Shepton Mallet prison closed as a working prison back in 2013 but the venue is now taken over at the weekends by Haunted Happenings, an organisation that runs ghost hunts. It has been called the most haunted prison in the UK. We wrote an article about the ghost hunt last month and it garnered a lot of attention; people really seemed to be excited about the ghost hunt.

So Bronte and I were sent to investigate and review the ghost hunt at Shepton Mallet prison to find out if it really is crammed full of ghosts.

Bronte was keen as mustard and genuinely wanted to see a ghost. I was less keen. But I was curious. Would the tour really be scary? Would it be weird or funny, or just a bit silly. Well, as it turned out, it was a little bit of everything.

The Ghost Hunt…

On arrival at the prison, we see the high imposing walls of the prison still with barb wire across the top. Bronte and I start to feel just a tad nervous. Before we have time to get too scared, we are greeted by a very friendly and down-to-Earth couple called Steph and Phil who are the lead ghost hunt guides.

We are ushered into a room where we sit with a group of about 38 people in a row while we have our introduction to the tour.

A scary sign (Image: Harriet Noble)

Phil and Steph give us a warm welcome and tell us that in all their time of running the ghost hunt tours, Shepton Mallet prison is now their favourite (it used to be Nottingham Gallows).

Phil and Steph go through the schedule for the evening and then explained the rules and regulations. Some are obvious and sensible. For example, no alcohol or drinking is allowed on the premises. Also prohibited is poking. In other words, don’t give anyone a fright, because people may not like it. One lady asks “Is it ok to scream?” “Yes, just no poking” says Phil.

The ouiji board (Image: Harriet Noble)

Other rules include turning off phones when conducting vigils, as not only could the sound of phones beeping make a noise but that the phone lines may effect communication with the spirits, when using the hunting equipment.

Phil also asks the smokers to stick to scheduled breaks when having a cigarette. “There’s nothing worse than doing a ouija board, hearing footsteps then realising it’s just someone going for a B & H.”

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They also give us some tips for photographing ghosts. Steph tells us that ‘Spirits like selfies’ and that if we think we see, hear or feel a ghost we should ask it whether it wants to be in the picture and then take a photo three times.

Phil and Steph talk about ghosts like most people talk about the weekly food shop. They are warm, chatty, likeable and make jokes but it is absolutely clear that ghosts to them are absolutely real and they have a mountain of spooky stories to prove it.

Of course there was a full moon (Image: Harriet Noble)

Phil explains to us that he used to be a sceptic. That was until he experienced a ghost himself. He now has seen lots, it seems once you see a ghost you can’t stop seeing them. He mentions that he was pushed down some stairs by a ghost and even recalled a time when he was felt up by a ghost in McDonald’s.

The other two team leaders, Laura and another Steph, also introduce themselves. Laura wears a woolly jumper with a pumpkin on it and says she “fell in love with” doing the ghost tours right from the get go.

Before we commence, Phil says: “Right, raise your hands – who are the sceptics? Who’s on the fence? Who’s a true believer? Looking around there seemed to be about a good third in each category. One thing is very noticeable about the group. They are nearly all women. I ask one of the leaders later if this ratio is the norm and she confirms that it is.

Phil gives us one final bit of advice. He tells us to get involved and try everything. Steph adds: “You are the investigators, not us. Keep your expectations down here and your energy levels up here.”

One woman says she is worried that the ghosts will go home with her at the end of the evening.

Phil jokes: “Don’t worry. We don’t do takeaways. The ghosts are happy here.”

We set off on a tour around the prison. There is no electricity in the actual prison so it is pitch black, except for our torches. It’s also cold, the cells have mouldy walls, stained floors and the skeletons of iron beds are less than inviting. Ghosts or no ghosts, it is all a bit terrifying.

One of the mouldy cells (Image: Harriet Noble)

We are shown around all the different wings of the prison, including the execution room. Steph tells us little tit bits about the history of the building and some of the stories of ghosts.

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We are led into a long narrow wing of the prison. We are told to line up with our backs against the walls and turn off our torches. It feels really claustrophobic and Bronte and I cling to each other for support. Phil starts to call out to the ghosts and asks them to make their presence known. A woman to my right says that she suddenly feels very cold. She sounded scared. Phil addresses the ghost and asks it to move to the left towards me. My heart leaps out of my chest. I don’t believe for one moment the Shepton Mallet ghost is hovering nearby and yet at the same time I am terrified and definitely don’t want it to come anywhere near me. Tell the ghost to move somewhere else Phil, I think to myself!

We carry on trying to communicate with the ghosts and are actively encouraged to speak to the ghosts. After several attempts to reach out, there is no response. We do not hear or see anything.

We return to the meeting room area for a welcome cup of tea and chocolate biscuit. Bronte and I both say that we feel a bit sick. People on the ghost tour are very keen to tell us that this was because of the presence of the ghosts.

Cell bars (Image: Harriet Noble)

Despite feeling a bit spooked, my knee jerk reaction tells me that we are feeling odd because it’s the middle of the night, we are in deepest darkest Shepton Mallet Prison and we are trying to get talking to ghosts. OF COURSE, we are going to be feeling a bit peculiar.

Next is the induction. Those people who have been on a ghost hunt before go off to start the proper investigating. These regulars are an interesting bunch. Some openly confess to having ‘caught the bug’ and again, have many a tale of sightings and hearings. One lady there says this is her ninth ghost hunt, she just can’t get enough of them.

Us newbies stay behind to learn how to use the equipment and boy, is there a lot of equipment involved in communicating with ghosts. Ouija boards and glasses turned down on tables I knew. I did not know about catballs, sensors, spirit boxes and K2’s.

Steph taught us how to use the equipment. I still don’t really understand it, but most of them were sensors that show electricity levels. Apparently, if they flash, then that shows that a ghost is nearby. Steph also teaches us how to do table topping and how to use the ouija board. Both involve rubbing your hands together at the start to ‘create some energy.’ Steph tells us that with the table toppings, she has seen the whole table move, shake and even spin round on one leg. This doesn’t always happen though as Steph reminds us: “You have to have a lot of patience with ghost hunting.”

We are split into groups and go off to try out the table topping in one of the cells. We all stand around with our finger tips on the table and talk to the ghost. Encouraged by Steph, we go round the circle introducing ourselves. We say things like: “Hello spirits, my name is Harriet. Please speak to us or give us a sign that you here. We wish you no harm” Some people are absolute naturals at talking to the ghosts and chat away with no inhibitions. I feel like a wolly and, apart from a quick hello, I keep my mouth shut.

The table does not move. Some people say there is a slight wobble but I don’t feel it. Bronte and I both hear a cry and someone reminds us we are in the women and baby wing and that we probably heard the ghost of a baby crying. Someone else says they think it was just a cat meowing.

We hear and see nothing more despite many attempts to communicate.

Later on, we are allowed to go off on our own and Bronte and I set off together. Ever enthusiastic, Bronte has grabbed the ouija board and off we trot. We try using the ouiji board as suggested but nothing happens. It does not move. Steph tells us that one of the best ways to get a reaction from the ghosts is to use humour. With this in mind, I tell the ghosts a joke, one that is relevant to convicted criminals. “What do you call two burglars?” I ask. “A pair of knickers!!” Still no response. Bronte and I soldier on, walking to the infirmary thinking there must be ghosts galore in there. We don’t hear so much as a whisper.

We have another break of tea and biscuits and a multi pack of crisps gets opened. We re-group and ask others if they have had any luck. Everyone shakes their heads and say they haven’t seen anything. The seasoned ghost hunter says it has been unusually quiet. I can sense people flagging a bit, it’s well past midnight and nothing has happened. Phil and Steph tell us that you can’t predict when ghosts will appear but do say that they have never really had a non-eventful night at the prison so there is hope amongst the group that something may happen.

We set off once more in our groups to try the ouiji board together. This time something does happen. The dial starts to move, sometimes randomly towards certain letters and numbers. We try to make out if it is spelling something. A crowd starts forming around us as the dial moves in different directions. There is finally a bit of excitement in the air. Some of the group think we have connected with a nine year old girl. This, for me, is the moment I lose all faith in ghosts because deep down I feel someone is definitely moving the dial around with their finger. At certain points I can actually see the finger pushing it. An actual grown-up pushing a dial round a ouiji board. I feel exasperated and cold and suddenly I am yearning for my bed.

The end of the ghost tour finally arrives. We have tried countless times to communicate with the ghosts and nothing. Everyone looks pooped, even the ghost guides. They seem a bit embarrassed that the night has been so uneventful. They all confirm that this is one of the quietest nights they have ever seen and I wonder if this is true. Bronte and I chat about it back at our B&B. We have spent the night in Britain’s most haunted prison and what it has confirmed for both of us is that we now definitely don’t believe in ghosts. Bronte summed it up when she said: “As my Grandfather always said ‘It’s the living you want to be afraid of.’”